Bryan asks:

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Hi, Bryan! It’s common to experience dry mouth when you’re nervous or anxious.

This is a natural result of the body’s fight-or-flight survival response to distressing situations — in this case, making a presentation in front of a group of people. Stress hormones produce physiological changes that can also include a pounding heart, quickened breath, tense muscles and beads of sweat.

But dry mouth does more than cause discomfort and make it difficult to speak or swallow. Chronic dry mouth can also increase the likelihood of cavities, gum disease, oral infections and bad breath.

Here are some tips to prevent dry mouth the next time you give a presentation: